"I would call him every so often when he was recuperating... kept telling him he was a fighter...kept telling him how much he needed him," said Schumer.

And that is a Democrat talking about his genuine bond and respect for his friend across the aisle.

It is a bond Republican congressman Peter King knows as well.

1,962 days.That’s how long John McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.He survived, thank God. He went on to show all of us what it means to be a great and selfless American.RIP to a great man, John McCain.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo saying in part... "He was a warrior and a statesman, in the old-fashioned sense. In his own way, he spoke truth to power."

He criticized Republicans and Democrats alike. John McCain criticized all of us. Because in his mind, those of us who are privileged to hold public office can never work hard enough for the people of this country. He was right.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said "John McCain served our nation with honor, first in the Navy, then as a representative and finally as a senator."

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who is considering a 2020 presidential run, said,

"John McCain's life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor. A life lived embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. John McCain will cast a long shadow. His impact on America hasn't ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come."